Preparing for a Home EV Charger Install: What to Expect⚡NSW
Posted 9 Nov
Posted 9 Nov
So you're looking into or have just bought an electric vehicle, but don't know the best method of recharging it. In this quick guide we go through how to prepare your home for an electric vehicle with adequate charging methods and other ways to improve your charging experience and speed.
Yes, you can charge your electric vehicle at home with portable and dedicated EV chargers.
One feature about buying an electric vehicle is gaining the ability to charge it right from the convenience of your home instead of relying on stations.
When buying an electric vehicle, they typically come with some sort of EV charger to be used with the car. Some offer standard wall outlet EV chargers, whilst some offer 7kW dedicated EV Chargers for faster charging.
But what are the different types of charging? What is the best for my home? We made a guide on the basics of EV charging to help you understand the basics.
Level 1 chargers are the slowest and most basic type of charger. They use a standard home outlet and can take up to 20 hours to fully charge an EV.
(Up to 2.4kW)
Being the most common form of electric vehicle charging for homes, a level 2 EV charging station enables convenient charging right at home.
(7-22kW)
DC fast charging is the fastest type of charging available, providing rapid rechargers, typically seen at supercharger stations on highways and other high-traffic areas.
(22-420kW)
Single and three-phase power basically refers to the amount of power provided to charge the electric vehicle.
Most homes are single-phase which means they can charge at a maximum of 7kW which is much faster than your standard wall outlet.
Three-phase charging on the other hand provides up to 22kW of charging to help charge electric vehicles much quicker. Homes that are single-phase can contact local electricians to get three-phase upgrades.
With modern homes already consisting of air conditioners, large stoves, and pool pumps, these already use a significant amount of the single-phase's capability. EV Charging on top of this would potentially push them over the fuse limit.
With a three-phase electrical upgrade, you essentially get 3 single-phase circuits. New and existing homes can retrofit three-phase upgrades.
Homes without solar should seriously consider investing as there is no cheaper power source than free. Solar allows you to recharge your EV completely or partially with solar energy, offsetting energy that would otherwise be sourced from the grid.
If solar is not an option for you, defintely have a look at on vs. off-peak periods. These allow you to avoid using electricity and charging your electric vehicle when energy is at its peak in price. Setting up scheduling or timers can allow you to access cheaper rates of charging depending on which kind of plan you're on.
For houses with rooftop PV solar systems, you can charge your electric vehicle using the solar energy generated throughout the day.
With EV chargers like Zappi and the Fronius Wattpilot, you can take advantage of ECO charging modes which enable EV owners to sustainably recharge their car.
You can also take advantage of smart modes where the charger determines whether to charge from solar and/or the grid, as well as timers to ensure cheap charging rates during off-peak periods.
Off-peak or Controlled load charging are 2 modes which chargers can power your vehicle through. Off-peak is charging your electric
vehicle at times (usually around 10pm-7am) of cheaper electricity bills and not during dinner time when everyone is using power, when it
is at its most-expensive (around 2pm-8pm).
A controlled load is a type of electricity rate/tariff provided by the electricity network for high energy appliances (EV Charging, pool
pumps, floor heating etc.) that is metered separately to the rest of the property.
Some Electric Vehicle chargers have timers and 'eco friendly' modes where they charge directly from solar when available, or delayed until energy is off-peak or shoulder-rates (rates between on and off-peak) are available.
Cost of Installation
The cost of setting up an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at home can vary based on several factors including labour, installation requirements, materials, and desired components.
EV Charger Options
The cost of the EV charger is an important factor to consider. The type and brand of charger will influence the price, with level 2 chargers being more expensive than level 1 chargers.
Electrical Infrastructure
In some cases, a switchboard upgrade may be needed to safely operate a level 2 charger. A level 2 electrician will upgrade the switchboard and connect and install the electric car charger.
Explore the pros and cons of investing in on-site EV charging for fleet management or using public EV chargers for your business's electric car fleet in NSW.
So you bought an electric vehicle, but what's the best way to charge it? Discover how to prepare your home for an EV charger station and what to do in NSW.
What's the best Solar EV Charger? Zappi or the Wattpilot? We have put together a side-by-side comparison, including the pro’s and con’s for both EV chargers.
Leave a Comment